Turin is a city that offers opportunities both to those who want to continue their studies and to those who are looking for work opportunities. In fact, some of the most prestigious and popular universities in Italy are located here and there are many young people from abroad who choose to move to the city for a longer or shorter period.

But now you are probably wondering where it is best and most advantageous to live in Turin. In this article we get to know the Aurora district, one of those bordering the city centre.

Also known as Borgo Aurora, it is one of the areas where the transformations taking place in the city year after year and the contradictions in society are most evident.

The eastern part, roughly between Borgo Rossini and Corso Palermo up to the intersection with Via Bologna, is undergoing strong expansion. The western part, on the other hand, sees the predominance of varied ethnic groups, especially in the area around Corso Giulio Cesare to the Barriera di Milano and San Donato districts.

Its industrial past has seen the effects of globalisation and urban regeneration projects. As a result, it has become one of the most resourceful districts with a growing young population.

History of the district

To learn more about Turin's Aurora district, let's start by discovering the origin of the name.

"Aurora' was an old farmhouse on the corner of what are now Corso Giulio Cesare and Corso Emilia, hence where 'Casa Aurora' stands today. The building once housed the Gruppo Finanziario Tessile, a company that began producing ready-to-wear clothes, and was later redesigned and transformed by the famous architect Aldo Rossi.

Taking a leap backwards, you should know that the first settlement was already established along the Dora Riparia River in Roman times, remaining a small agglomeration of people until the Middle Ages. But over the years, the very presence of the river attracted a growing number of inhabitants, mainly tanners and workers in the mills.

To see a real process of urbanisation, we have to wait until the era of industrialisation in Turin when the workers who worked in the factories settled in the area. From this moment on, Aurora began to become Turin's largest working-class district and over the years many industries moved their workshops here.

The growth trend continued until the 1980s when the decline of inhabitants began due to the closure of many factories, one of which was Fiat Grandi Motori based in Via Cuneo.

But what is it like to live in the Aurora district today?

What the Aurora district looks like today

It can be said that a lot of water has passed under the bridge and the fate of the neighbourhood has radically changed.

Although, in part, today's Aurora is still tied to its history and popular origins, on the other hand, its proximity to the centre and the fading of clear boundaries between areas of the city is changing its image and atmosphere.

The district is divided into five recognisable zones:

• the older area along the Dora River where the Cottolengo hospital is located and where the Balon, a flea market is located;
• the area closest to the centre where the Porta Palazzo market is located;
• the Valdocco area on the border with San Donato and where there is the Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians;
• the Borgata Aurora which arose during the industrialisation of Turin;
• Borgo Rossini, which still has old buildings but where redevelopment work has changed its fate, near the Einaudi Campus.

The new university campus, the redeveloped buildings and the new activities started up have made Aurora an expanding district perfectly in line with the modern direction taken by the city. Other redevelopment projects are, in fact, still planned as well as social integration projects.

What to see and visit

Walking around the district, you can go from one of the five zones into which it is divided and, in each one, see and experience the local atmosphere of the district.

One of the most characteristic places is Porta Palazzo and its large market in Piazza della Repubblica. By the way, Turin is famous for its squares, and they are all worth visiting, but we challenge you to choose your favourite because they are all beautiful and special.

Coming back to us, this permanent market is the best-stocked and busiest in Turin. Apart from locals, tourists and travellers also pass through to look for bargains. In fact, you can find practically anything, even at very favourable prices.

To stay on the topic, in Borgo Dora on Saturday mornings and every second Sunday of the month there is the Balon, the largest flea and antiques market in Europe. Shopkeepers display their wares, and you can find truly bizarre things that drive fans crazy.

Looking again at the historical relics, a must-see on Corso Principe Oddone is the Basilica di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, a church dating back to 1860 with a frescoed dome housing the tomb of Saint John Bosco. A short distance away stands the Arsenale per la Pace di Torino, a former military arsenal, an arms factory converted into a place to welcome young people. Also worth mentioning are the 50-metre-long Ponte Mosca bridge over the Dora River and the Church of San Gioacchino.

Moving on, however, to modern and contemporary structures: Nuvola Lavazza, an ever-changing venue housing the Lavazza Museum and Piazza and La Centrale, that is an event space. The other futuristic structure in the area is the Campus Luigi Einaudi, one of the Turin University's buildings, which also houses the Norberto Bobbio Library and the Campus Café.

A highlight of the district is the Turin Eye in Piazza Borgo Dora, a hot-air balloon that rises up to 150 metres (492 feet) above the ground and offers an exciting panorama of the city.

Best restaurants and clubs in the district

In the Aurora district you can find both old trattorias or piole, the name given to the typical Piedmontese osteria where you can eat and drink well while spending little, and also restaurants with international cuisine.

Let us review some of the trattorias where you can sample typical Piedmontese dishes: Osteria del Balon, Trattoria a Casa di Anna, Trattoria Valenza, La tana dei tre, Trattoria Primavera, Osteria Povr'Om.

At the restaurant Condividere, owned by chef Federico Zanasi, you can enjoy the classic agnolotto, which is sometimes revisited with special sauces that you would not expect for this dish. Speaking, on the other hand, of chef Manolo Murroni, at San Giors, in via Borgo Dora, you can taste his vitello tonnato, half-baked and half steamed, accompanied by a sauce perfectly balanced in its ingredients.

Among the ethnic dishes you can find anything and everything: from Moroccan cuisine at Al Andalus to Indian restaurants such as Karmacola. Or even traditional Armenian dishes, Japanese sushi, Chinese or Mexican restaurants and various choices for the sandwich or kebab plate.

For a break and a sweet snack, the best ice cream can be found at the Gelateria Popolare in Borgo Dora. Among the flavours you should try is gianduja, made with local Piedmontese hazelnuts.

But where to go to meet up with friends in the neighbourhood for an aperitif or a drink? Here is a selection of places to try: Lumeria, both a café and an original pub, Ca' Maìs, tapas for aperitifs, beers, wines, and cocktails, Le Panche, a place also with outdoor tables. If you are looking for wine bars in particular: Vineria 67, Edicola Vino e Cucina, BEVA Vini e Ristoro, Ciabót Enoteca.

In short, the Aurora district really offers everything, and, in any case, it is very close to the city centre, which can be reached on foot with a nice walk or by public transport, where the opportunities for movida multiply.